Name: unknown (he never bothered to find out)
Alias: Stryker
Race: Elf
Sex: Male
Affiliation:
Divers of the Astral Sea (magical group)
Nationality: unknown, probably UCAS, mixed heritage, signs of Caucasian, Asian and Native American genes
Lifestyle: Low - a small RV, that was buried by a gang compound, with an entrance through a hidden manhole.
Karma Spent: *36*
Current Karma: 10
Current NuYen: 5500 +~200 (personal)
Physical Description: Stryker is 16 years old, auburn-haired, a bit too skinny, but looking surprisingly sharp and confident. He's usually well groomed, as hygiene and good appearance were basic rules he was taught at an early age. His looks are exotic, but in a way that's not even a bit unusual in Seattle.
Background: Stryker is an escapee from a AA corporations combat mage training program. He was seriously wounded by a lucky shot during a 'hot training', where the kids were taught how to fight organized opponents on one of the Barrens lesser gangs. Fortunately (for both Stryker and them), the gang was just was assimilated by the Cutters, and the corps, who were unaware of the fact, were repelled. Some of the gangers noticed they were fighting kid-spellslingers and a small detachment of corporate security. That's probably why they spared him (along with the fact, that he was accidentally shot in the back by someone on his side). He was slowly de-programmed by a Cutter-affiliated magician, who taught him his way - the Way of the Spellweaver, that follows instincts and inner voices. He managed to recover from both mental, and physical damage, and pleaded loyalty, but not membership to the gang in return for help.
Since he wasn't taught much besides basics of magic and combat, he does what he's best in, looking for an opportunity to expand his skill-sets, and find his own path...
Lately he managed to track down a small facility 'his' corp had on the outskirts of town, and make some mess (and get himself a few nice toys), but he was spotted and identified, earning a criminal SIN and a 'armed, dangerous, magician' tag in the files.
Personality: He still has problems with existing among metahumans not as personnel, but as a person, so he tends to be stubborn and harsh. It's his defense mechanism, because he really really hates to be used or manipulated, and his limited freedom is his biggest treasure. He still has the tendency to act in a military-like way when he thinks there can be trouble. On the inside he's a bit insecure, especially since he doesn't know much about anything beside spellcasting and basics of combat and infiltration.
Attributes:
Body: 3 +++
Agility: 3 +++
Reaction: 3 +++
Strength: 2 ++
Charisma: 3 ++
Intuition: 5 +++++
Logic: 4 ++++
Willpower: 5 ++++
Magic: 4 ++++
Initiate Grade: 1 +
Metamagic:
QuickeningEdge: 3 +++
Initiative: 8 ++++++++
Essence: 6
Positive QualitiesMagician (15)
Mentor Spirit (5)
Ambidextrous (5)
Negative QualitiesSINner Criminal (10)
Sensitive System (15)
Astral Beacon (5)
Gremlins 1 (5)
Active Skills:
Assensing : 2 ++
Astral Combat (Blade foci) : 2 ++
Banishing : 2 ++
Counterspelling : 2 ++
Spellcasting (*Combat*): 5 +++++
Ritual Spellcasting : 1 +
*Summoning : 3* +++
*Binding : 1* +
Arcana : 2 ++
Infiltration : 2 ++
Perception : 2 ++
Automatics : 2 ++
Blades : 2 ++
Dodge : 2 ++
First Aid : 1 +
Pistols : 2 ++
*Enchanting: 1* +
*Medicine : 1* +
Knowledge Skills:
English : N
Sperethiel : 3 +++
Or'zet : 3 +++
Japanese : 3 +++
Parazoology : 3 +++
Magical Threats : 3 +++
Spirits : 3 +++
Magic Background : 3 +++
Security Systems : 3 +++
Spell Design : 3 +++
Armor:
Urban Explorer Jumpsuit (6/6 with Fire Resistance Rating 3, Nonconductivity 6)
Feedback Clothing (Regular)
Weapons:
Shock Gloves (on his hands, but they're not activated yet)
Survival Knife (on his waist, horizontally strapped to the belt)
Jin Sword Weapon Focus (Rating 2) on his back in the lock-sheath across to the left side, hilt downwards)
Colt Manhunter (holstered on his right hip)
4x Spare Clip for Colt Manhunter, 2 regular, 1 EX-Ex, 1 S-n-S (in the UE utility harness)
2x Flashbang grenade
Equipment:
Headphones (Rating 3 with Spatial Recognizer and Audio Enhancement (Rating 2)
Goggles (Rating 6, with Flare Compensation, Image Link, Vision Enhancement (Rating 3) and Vision Magnification)
Subvocal Microphone (Rating 2)
Manipulation Sustaining Focus (Rating 3)
Respirator (Rating 3)
Novatech Airware Commlink (Response 3, Signal 3, *w. pirated Redcap Nix OS: Firewall 1 System 2, and pirated Basic User program suite: Analyze 2, Browse 2, Command 1, Edit 2, plus a Scan 3 program*)
Nanopaste Trodes (equipped)
2x Light Stick (UE utility harness)
Magnesium Torch (UE utility harness)
In a backpack:
-*Medkit (Rating 4)*
-Gecko Tape Gloves
-bag of sand, 2 lbs.
-Defiance EX Shocker
-Jammer, Area (Rating 2)
-Tag Eraser
-Assaying Kit
-*Survival Kit*
Spells:
Powerbolt
Heal
Increase Reflexes
Improved Invisibility
Armor
Levitate
Combat Sense
Quickened Spells:
Increase Reflexes F4Resources:
Talislegger Kit
Magical Lodge Materials (Rating 5)
*Binding Materials (Rating 4)*
FN HAR with Shock Pad and 2 Spare Clips
4x Light Stick
1x Magnesium Torch
Ammo:
68 regular manhunter
4 EX-Ex manhunter
40 gel manhunter
24 S-n-S manhunter
40 ex manhunter
100 regular FN HAR (loaded included)
2x Flash-Bang
His Manipulation
Sustaining Focus is for Manipulation Spells, a bracelet made of processed silver, which once was a sterile piece of corporate magical gear, but now it's a piece of art, covered with beads, wires, small rocks, and such, that from a certain agles look like a shifting stream of manalines. This was made by his master, along with his friend, a AmerInd street shaman.
His
Weapon Focus is a Jian sword, but it was obviously made by a non-corporate artisan-enchanter. It's decorations are subtle, but visible, and on the Astral it is branded with flaming quote from
The Art of War - the First Essential for Victory: "
He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight". Out of respect for his master's respects for the craftsman, the blade was left untouched.
As for the tradition, he's a member of a small, not so formal tradition, that aspires to work with the Magic as a self-driven force. It has some ties to eco-activists, nature-worshipers and similar minded groups. They see their magic as weaving the streams of mana together, and using them as a 'prayer' to the World-Soul. One of the unusual things in their tradition is the relationship with spirits. They consider them more than equals, as their astral nature and existence within the Manastream makes them closer to the World-Soul. Therefore they treat them a bit like minor gods, appeasing them with sacrifices, and bargaining for help (not services). The ever-changing nature of spirits if for them a proof of their connection and to their beliefs. They find Free Spirits as those, who managed to embrace both the Physical and Astral Path, and treat them with great reverence. As for the general type, the spirits they summon seem to be both Nature and Elemental spirits, and sometimes even a hybrid between the two (like the spirit of an Avalanche, or Mist).
Combat: Guardian, as those following the Spellweavers way tend to use force only when necessary for protection of their own, and others (especially others).
Detection: Guidance, as they believe there are spirits that favor humanity with it's advice and guidance.
Health: Plant, as they believe in the power of the green world, that heals every wound in time (many of them learn to use natural remedies).
Illusion: As, as it is the element of Smoke and Mirages.
Manipulation: Man, as the metahumanity has learned much from the spirits, that they believe to mimic them, or be created (Weavers abhor the idea, believing that 'Spirits of Man' were there long before any metahuman).
Banned: Task, as they believe those are twisted spirits, enslaved and suffering.
Drain: Willpower +
Intuition, as they seem to have an innate sense of mana, that allows them to use the Streams in their favor.
His
Mentor Spirit is
The Dark Queen of Warriors (as
Wise Warrior, but he gets -2 if he acts dishonorably when any Spirit is involved), which seems very similar to the war goddess Morrigan, from the Irish legends, and is accompanied by spectral wolves, and ravens, and always holds a sword in hand (puzzling is the fact, that it looks just like his Weapon Focus - Stryker seems to believe, that she uses his blade as a 'receiver'). They have a strong, but strange relationship - she always seems to abandon him, whenever he acts in an even slightly dishonorable way, and never gives any praises. Stryker has learned to read more from her silent presence, than from the rare words of advice (which seem more enigmatic, than Chinese proverbs). He probably subconsciously treats her as a mother he never had, and tends to be very emotional over any signs of her discontent.
After a particularly gruesome adventure, where his conviction was sorely tested Stryker learned how to control himself, and found that his Path and the Spirits he met on it were a huge help. Till this day he never spoke about that job, except that his partner and employer, a troll Samurai named Brick, saved his skin more than once. And that it was all Brick's doing.
Name: Divers of the Astral Sea
(Also: Radiant Servants, 'Streamers', 'those kooks that pray to spirits')
Purpose: To provide a community for like-minded magicians, and pay the proper respects to the Beings living in the Manastreams. Either through deed, or by promoting proper 'Spirit' treatment. They also take any opportunity to promote any movement or idea that touches the Living Earth (gaiasphere) aspect, including eco-friendly, metahuman-friendly, health promotion and mysticism of any kind.
Members: Locally 16, 9 Shamans, 3 Spellweavers, 1 Quaballist, 1 Hermetic; they conserve a 50:50 gender ratio though.
Strictures:
> Fraternity: "Friendship is a Boon, which needs to be repaid in full."
> Limited Membership: 'Spirit-Worshipers' only - doesn't matter what path they take, only how they walk it, and how they treat both Magic and it's Firstborn.
> Deed: The Divers follow their beliefs and purpose not by disputes and propaganda, but through their lives and deeds, and as such they need to prove more than just their allegiance to the group, but their very own conviction to the cause and the Path they took.
Resources/Dues: Middle, the Divers maintain a secret refuge somewhere in the Barrens, and only fully Initiated members are provided with a set of clues on how to find it. It has a set of Magical Lodges for both Shamanistic, and Spellweaver traditions, ritual space, a meeting hall, a small kitchen, and a communal herb garden. Most of the members are Enchanters, some of them are even Talismongers. All of them are trained - even if only basically - in the Art of Healing, both physical and spiritual. There are Dues involved, but the group divides them not evenly, but by resources available to members, so those who lack the nuyen can do their part by providing services, or holding Vigils for the Divers who wander the Manastreams.
Patron: 'Kadmos the Unchained' - a Free Great Form Spirit of Man, who often attends the meetings held by the Divers. He also provides both information, and assistance in Astral and Metaplanar voyages. He does that only for those who earned his respect though, and that takes time and effort. Rumors say that he lives in an Alchera of a golden magic age, and that he serves a Dragon...